SONATA, in music, a piece or composition, intended to be performed by instruments only; in which sense it stands opposed to cantata, or a piece designed for the voice. See CANTATA.
There are sonatas from one to eight parts; but usually they are performed by a single violin, or with two violins and a thorough-bass for the harpichord, and frequently a more figured bass for the bass-viol.
Sonatas, though extremely numerous, are reduced by the Italians to two kinds: 1. Those proper for church-music, which usually begin with a grave and solemn motion, and afterwards strike into a brisker and gay manner; these are what they more peculiarly call sonatas. 2. Those for the chamber, being little pieces for dancing.